Ray Wilkins opens up about his battle with alcoholism on talkSPORT

Ray Wilkins returned to talkSPORT on Thursday evening to discuss his ongoing battle with alcoholism on Kick Off with Mark Saggers.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder has been off air for a few months, having entered the Priory Hospital in Woking for a five week rehabilitation programme.

In July of this year the ex-England international was handed a four-year ban for drink diving, having previously been stopped behind the wheel of a car whilst over the legal limit.

Having admitted to suffering from alcoholism, Wilkins came to terms with his illness, and in a frank and honest interview with talkSPORT he opened up on his ongoing battle to recover from his troubles.

Wilkins said: “I’ve had some wonderful support, especially from family and friends, and it has been a very difficult period, I have to say. I’m not the only one out there, I’m sure, who’s in a very similar situation.

“It’s an awful disease that I have, and it’s been a very tough period, I think more so for the family than myself. I’m the person who causes the problems, and they have to suffer the consequences to a large degree.

“I’m a very fortunate person to have had their support.

“The stick will come, and I’m perfectly aware of that situation, but saying that the majority of people have been superb and I thank them immensely for that.

“I was fortunate, along with my family, that I was able to go into the Priory in Woking, and I was there for five weeks in a rehab centre in which I’d have to say the expertise of the therapists was quite fantastic.

“It’s not easy to go into therapy; it’s a very difficult place to be, but I was delighted I went in and I learnt a lot of things. I learnt a lot of tools which I brought out that will hopefully help me throughout the years to come.

“And I feel so much better already. First and foremost to have got it out in the open, because there’s nothing worse than having to conceal stuff, but now it’s out there and I just hope we can move on and really enjoyable some fabulous football and some fabulous times on talkSPORT.

“[It caught up with me] Rapidly. It was almost unbelievable, that one minute I felt perfectly fine and then all of a sudden – bang! It was like a bit of an earthquake really. It was pretty horrendous how quickly this situation grew.

“I’d sooner be facing Graeme Souness any day of the week compared to what I’m going to face now. But I’m well up for the challenge of it.

“I’ve been clean now to close for three months, and I’m feeling so much better. The temptations will come, there’s no two ways about it, but as they say in AA – just take one day at a time.”

Wilkins further added that the privilege of his position – being an ex-footballer – means he should do more to help people in need – a message he hopes others start to heed.

He added: “I’ve always been the type of guy who believes footballers are a part of society, and we have to do our utmost. We are in a privileged position, and if we can give someone five minutes, I don’t see where the problem is with that.

“I think footballers have to accept, and we have to accept as ex-footballers and coaches, that we do need to give these people a bit of time. We’re not immune from anything. We’re human beings, and a lot of people do suffer.

“In the process of trying to get better, I bumped into a lot of sports people that are in the same boat, and I’m sure there are lots of others out there.

“And if there are others out there, please God they’re not in the same situation as I find myself, if they ever need to pick a phone up I’m on the end of it. It’s not a problem.”